<img src='/images/misc/eye.jpg' style='float:right' vspace='8' hspace='8'> <b>Annoying someone via the Internet is now a federal crime. <br /> <br /> It's no joke. Last Thursday, President Bush signed into law a prohibition on posting annoying Web messages or sending annoying e-mail messages without disclosing your true identity. <br /> <br /> </b><br /><br />By Declan McCullagh <br /> <br /> Published: January 9, 2006, 4:00 AM PST <br /> <br /> <br /> In other words, it's OK to flame someone on a mailing list or in a blog as long as you do it under your real name. Thank Congress for small favors, I guess. <br /> <br /> This ridiculous prohibition, which would likely imperil much of Usenet, is buried in the so-called Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. Criminal penalties include stiff fines and two years in prison. <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <div class='newslinks'><img src='http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/style_images/1/cs_page.gif'> <b>Link: <a href='http://news.com.com/Create+an+e-annoyance%2C+go+to+jail/2010-1028_3-6022491.html?part=rss&tag=6022491&subj=news' target='_blank'><font color='red'>Complete c|net News.Com article</font></a><br />

I dunno about legislation, but I'm against stuff like spoofin' emails to ppl
to shake 'em up or that sorta deal. Flat out angers me.

This is good. One for us the simple user.

Now can they take a look at the junk on my fax.....

Let's see...... If they know who you are it is ok to flame someone! If you are anonomous, they can punish you.... only if they don't know who you are??????

I'm going to sue you! You anoyned me! j/k,,

*dials 911

911: State your emergency please...

me: I was anonyed by someone online, and it was anonymous!!!

911: Ok sir, may I have there name?

me: wait.....er.... it was anonymous!!!

911: yes sir, they can be punished, however we can't do anything unless we have there name!!!!!!!!

me: oh... so what's the point of that law?

911: So I can sue you! muhahaha!! You are anonymous on this phone call, you anoyed me, and now that I will soon have your information I can sue you!

E-Mail spammers have been caught, arrested and their assests siezed.
And as far as a blog goes, could they not be traced?

So...

What about on an IRC chat?

All someone has to do is annoy someone, sign-off change there IP and they'd be out of the clear.

Is this all that our government has the time to do? mess with e-mail! And I agree about the faxes. I receive about 6 or 7 a day call the number get erased and get the same one the following day?


Annoyoumus